Did you know that the National Football League doesn't view tackles as an official statistic. It's true. Even though they're listed at NFL.com's statistical page, nothing more than a compilation of the NFL.com's Game Book which is generated in real-time, the tackling numbers aren't a very reliable source for a given players official tackles. It's why you see several entities provide differing statistics, some using the Game Books, others using their own numbers describing tackles.

Most teams accumulate their own numbers, including the Cincinnati Bengals while fans and the media often use "press box" statistics.

For example NFL.com has outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict generating 48 tackles this season. Yet the coaching staff reportedly has Burfict making 62 tackles this year, including 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday Night. We're not exactly sure why the massive difference, other than those tackles made during obstructive piles that requires replay to adjust.

That being said, Burfict's pace of 120 tackles this year will break the franchise rookie record of 106 tackles set by Reggie Williams in 1976.

Joe Reedy with the Cincinnati Enquirer wrote a great piece on Burfict over the weekend, how far he's come and the impact Marvin Lewis has had on the rookie linebacker.